Cwmbran primary school gets green award

A CWMBRAN primary school has been awarded the highest environmental award available to public bodies by Keep Wales Tidy.

Blenheim Road Community Primary School was awarded a Green Flag Award with platinum status after eight years of following environmentally friendly policies.

It is only the third school in Torfaen and the 115th in Wales to be given the accolade.

The award was presented by Rhys Bebb, the Eco-Schools officer for Newport and Torfaen.

Schoolchildren gave him a tour of the school grounds and their compost bins, vegetable beds, ponds and bug hotels when he visited last week to check the school had fulfilled the award’s criteria.

The school has taken part in a number of environmental events throughout the year, such as Waste Week in June and Switch Off Fortnight, which stretched over November and December.

Marie Galeozzi, Blenheim Road’s Eco-School co-ordinator said: “It is wonderful news that our school has been given the platinum award. The whole school has worked very hard over the past three years on environmental and sustainable activities and we have exciting plans for the future too.

“I am so proud of the Eco Team and the children of Blenheim Road, and thank all the staff for their support in helping our school reach this high eco standard. It's great to be green."

In the spring, the school will be taking part in the RSPB's Bird Watch activities, the Gwent Wildlife Community Quiz and an eco project with an Estonian school.